HOOPS UPDATE: SPARSE ACTION OVER HOLIDAYS; CRAIG SMITH ON HORIZON

When North defeated Mission, 60-34 Saturday the game presented a special link, as Lady Coog coach Jenny Garcia worked against a familiar foe, husband Roy Garcia II, who leads the Lady Eagle program.

Garcia, who has coached the North girls during the past several summer league seasons, knew everything about the team’s tendencies but his Lady Eagles were unable to take advantage. Tiffany Chapa (15 points) and Anzhaleny Jordan (13) led a balanced attack for North, which improved to 5-5 with the triumph. Six other girls scored at least four for the team, which almost eclipsed the season high for points, 66 earlier in the slate against CC Ray.

Two weeks remain for girls’ non-district play, as the kickoff date of Dec. 16 arrives. That night, Edinburg (11-3) will be at Econ (4-9) and North will travel to Vela to take on the Lady SaberCats (4-5).

EHS has been idle for a week after a furious stretch of games but was set to return to the court Tuesday at McAllen Memorial. The Lady Jags were to welcome Harlingen South to town: the Lady Hawks are coached by former Econ mentor Kelly Garrett.

BOYS’ SCENE: EHS OFF WELL

Over the holiday the city boys were relatively quiet, as the only local action came Saturday when North dropped to 0-4 with a loss at McAllen Rowe. This week the Cougars are scheduled to take on Athlos Leadership Academy of Brownsville before coming into the annual Craig Smith Tourney, which starts Dec. 1.

Other teams with bouts Tuesday included Vela – against La Joya on the road – plus Edinburg (Rivera) and Econ (Harlingen South).

Coach Zeke Cuellar’s EHS bunch did a nice job out at Laredo last weekend, taking home fifth place at the Border Olympics by winning three out of four. The Bobcats, now 6-1, defeated Rosenberg Terry in the clincher, after victories over Laredo LBJ and private school power St. Augustine. Their only loss was by 6 to Nixon, and Cuellar says that the defeat showed him quite a lot.

“We were right in that game the whole way,” said the veteran boss. “Jesus [Cantu] fouled out with about six minutes left but the rest of the kids really fought hard, played tough. Right now, with the way we played out there, I think the kids have a lot of confidence. They feel they can play with anyone and so do I.”

The 6-5 junior Cantu and 6-3 sophomore Antoine Woodard have established themselves as the team leaders, and Cuellar notes that the supporting cast, while not very deep, has done everything he’s asked so far.

“Each of them has shown that they understand their role and they are ready to fill it,” he said, adding that junior guard Damian Garcia has already exceeded early expectations for the ‘Cats. “They are doing their part and they are playing together, as a team. So right now, like I say, we are feeling pretty good. I think we are ahead of where we were at this stage last season.”

Along with Garcia, veteran guard Mike Trevino has also shown improvement, and knocked down four threes in the win over a tall and athletic Terry club. Cuellar feels that the ‘Cats are starting to show the signs of a title contender.

“I think what you’d like is not to worry about who you are playing against,” he explained. “What you want is to worry about your own game, who you’re playing with. These kids are doing that so far, and so we are not looking at the Smith bracket, we are just playing very well together.”